The Die is Cast

Butler v. Duke

David v. Goliath

This is it, people.  The type of matchup I've been waiting for.  A very "mid" major program... Butler's been dominating the Horizon League for a few years.  The Horizon League is the epitome of what I think of a mid-major conference as... They're right in the middle of the conference ratings year after year.  They aren't like the MVC, the A10, or the MWC, all conferences that challenge the "power" conferences every year.  Without Butler they'd look more like the Patriot League.  Butler's got talent though.  Like a good mid-major they're constructed around a few very good players with reasonable mid-level talent to make their depth.  Their bench has some talent, and plays hard, but they don't have a line of McDonald's All-Americans riding the pine waiting for their minutes.  The Bulldogs will depend on names like Hayward, Mack.  3 stars.  2 stars.

Duke.  Goliath.  The perfect embodiment of everything a mid-major fan believes of "power conference" arrogance.  Their Emperor Palpatine-like Coach K.  He's brooding on the sidelines shrewishly.  He's turning his evil laser eyes on the refs should a call dare go the way of any of his opponents.  Actual coaching?  I think he's above that, don't you?  A roster full of blue-chip, 5-star, high school All-Americans.  The unflinching, unquestioning, and disgusting love of Dick Vitale, Digger Phelps, and Jay Bilas.  Fans who just assume that you shouldn't bother showing up because Duke is so amazingly wonderful that their mere aura will turn the bowels of their opponents to water and mush. They've even got the size of the biblical giant.  Butler, for a mid, isn't small, but on the court they look like mere mice for Duke's big men to tread upon.  Zoubek.  Goliath.  The Plumlees.  The Brothers Goliath.

So, for every underdog in the world, get that sling a-wound Butler.  Kill Goliath.  Shatter his eye with your slingstone.  Cut off his head when you're done.